Assessment of antimicrobial susceptibility testing techniques in some laboratories in Cameroon
Tchoula Mamiafo Corinne, Gonsu Kamga Hortense , Toukam Michel, Emilia Enjema Lyonga-Mbamyah, Andremont Antoine
CaHReF 2016, Yaoundé Conges hall, 23 – 26 August 2016 , PP28
The increasing bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents has rendered susceptibility testing an indispensable tool for appropriate antibiotic selection. The information obtained should be correct, accurate and reproducible. This study aimed at assessing the technical methods of antimicrobial susceptibility testing in some medical laboratories in Cameroon.
A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out. Information about the different steps involved in susceptibility testing by the use of a questionnaire and an observation sheet was collected from each laboratory. These data collection tools were based on the standards currently found in various countries and those found in our laboratories.
Thirteen laboratories were enrolled in the study. They were made up of 03 private and 10 public institutions. In 69.2% of the laboratories, the Head was a clinical biologist. Generally, the agars prepared were appropriate for non- fastidious bacteria, but that was not the case for those requiring special conditions. Quality control of media and antibiotic discs as well as their conservation did not comply with the standards. We found out that 76.9% of laboratories did not have the Mac Farland standard range. One hundred percent (100%) of the laboratories used the 90mm diameter Petri dishes. We observed that 05 to 14 discs were used with a mean of 08 discs per Petri dish. The reading of inhibition zones was done by visual estimation in 56.8% of the laboratories. Only 38.5% of the laboratories had reference strains. The interpretation of the susceptibility testing’s crude results were not made by 92.3% of the laboratories.
Most laboratories do not have a standard of antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and when they have one, they do not strictly comply with standard’s recommendations. Moreover, the importance of the strict and correct execution of susceptibility testing procedure has not been well integrated by the technicians.
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, laboratories, standards.